Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Nine for a bite, one for a punch?

NO PARITY Chile striker Pinilla slams Fifa after it bans Brazil official for one game, points to severe Suarez sanction

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RIO DE JANEIRO: Mauricio Pinilla on Monday lashed out at Fifa after Brazil’s press chief Rodrigo Paiva was given a one-match ban following allegation­s he punched the Chile striker during the World Cup last-16 game between the countries.

“One match for Rodrigo Paiva? You should be ashamed for that delinquent dressed in a suit,” Pinilla wrote on his Twitter account before comparing the ban to the four-month suspension given to Uruguay’s Luis Suarez for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini last week.

“Suarez for a bite risks his career...A press chief gets one game for a punch in the face? FIFA?? I demand that FIFA hand Rodrigo Paiva an exemplary punishment equal to that of my colleague Suarez...!!! This is even more serious! They have the images,” he added.

Paiva was issued with a red card following the incident and will not be able to take any part in Brazil’s quarter-final against Colombia on Friday, Fifa spokeswoma­n Delia Fischer confirmed earlier on Monday.

Fifa’s disciplina­ry committee was also investigat­ing the incident, meaning Paiva could face further sanctions.

In a statement on the Brazilian federation’s website, Paiva said: “I respect, as I always have, decisions taken by Fifa. The case is being investigat­ed by Fifa’s disciplina­ry committee, and they already have proof of reprehensi­ble conduct by the Chilean delegation that will show the truth of what happened.”

The fracas happened at halftime in Saturday’s match in Belo Horizonte, which Brazil won on penalties.

Chile’s media spokesman Maria Jose said his Brazilian

MAURICIO PINILLA, Chile striker

counterpar­t “hit” Pinilla.

Paiva told Brazilian media there was shoving by both sides as the two teams left the field.

“I was not the only one involved. Pinilla came looking for me and I just defended myself,” he was quoted as saying.

“I just pushed him,” he added. “They started to insult us, there was some shoving but no assault,” he said.

YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR THAT DELINQUENT DRESSED IN A SUIT. SUAREZ FOR A BITE RISKS HIS CAREER...A PRESS CHIEF GETS ONE GAME FOR A PUNCH IN THE FACE?

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